Izumi Yokoyama:
Liminal Passage
ON VIEW IN THE GALLERY OCT 27 - DEC 7
ARTIST RECEPTION & PERFORMANCE ART SCREENING
Sat, Nov 8, 3-6pm
As part of Izumi's Yokoyama's art opening, "Liminal Passage" (at the Wildflower Playhouse, Saturday, November 8th, 3-6pm) a multi-media component to the event will be two free screenings of The Bride, a gothic chamber film, in which Yokoyama played the lead role, and delivered a haunting cinematic solo on par with consummate performance art. The film also features the music of local favorite, Diatom Deli.
The Bride is scheduled for two screenings: 4pm and 5pm. (The film runs approximately 30 min.)
THE BRIDE
In the shadowy, cryptic and solitary world of The Bride, a woman, garbed in a wedding dress and veil, directly engages the mirror and its ghostly witnesses, as she confronts internal pressures— rooted in family, self-image and societal expectations—while undergoing a stark and dramatic metamorphosis.
COLLECTION
The exhibition, Liminal Passage, is a collection of intricate line drawings, a time-haunted installation, and a tradition-breaking performance video. Yokoyama’s work reflects the mysteries of life and death within the context of nature, incorporating transcendental motifs.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I create intricate line drawings and time-haunted installations. My work reflects the mysteries of life and death within the context of nature, sometimes incorporating transcendental motifs. Japanese culture and rituals taught me to respect the existence of Mono: everything and every being. I acknowledge and grasp the detailed process of living and dying; fleeting cherry blossom petals gently express ephemeral beauty, while cosmic creatures suggest eternal connections.
The night sky and cherry blossom trees are recurring inspirations in my work. The cosmos in my works suggests hope and the miracle of life, illustrating our connection to the vast universe beyond. I use thread and yarn in my installations and sculptures, inspired by the Japanese word Tsumugu, which means ‘thread-spinning’ or ‘telling a story,' symbolizing connections and evanescent moments while transforming the scene into an extended pause, accentuating light and shadow.
ARTIST BIO
Izumi Yokoyama is a multi-media artist and art educator whose creative journey spans from her roots in Niigata, Japan, to her life in Taos, New Mexico. After earning her MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, she found inspiration in the high desert. Her artistic world is rich and varied, encompassing intricate ink pen drawings, immersive installations, murals, calligraphy, collaborative community projects, and dynamic performances. Yokoyama’s work has been shown locally, nationally, and internationally. Recently, the Harwood Museum of Art welcomed one of her drawings into its permanent collection. She is slated to have a solo show at the Denver Botanic Gardens Museum in 2026. Yokoyama also shares her passion for drawing as a professor at the University of New Mexico - Taos Art Department.